Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Moving to Spain

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)

- - Moving to Spain (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/moving-to-spain-986578/)

Hi

Me, my Husband and 2 year old son are looking to relocate to Spain, but not really sure where would be best for our needs, I am looking for somewhere on the Coast that has an all year round steady tourist trade as I am looking at opening a gift shop, I would also like somewhere with a comfortable Expat Community and obviously somewhere suitable to bring up a child, I understand that Spain is suffering with The Tourist Industry at the moment, and I know my requirements are probably quite nieve but if anyone has any advise it would be gratefully received

Thank you

What nationality are you? If you do not hold an EU country nationality you need visas and work permits.
You do realise that unemployment in Spain is astronomical? That many expats working in the tourist industry are selling up and leaving, assuming they can find a buyer?

Pretty much any where along the coast, especially in southern Spain has a big multi national expat community.

Assuming you hold a nationality that allows moving and working in Spain I would start by looking at web sites focused on the ex-pat community. You would then need to visit a short list of areas to get an idea of the local community and living conditions (many places are hellishly hot in the summer).

Also - not sure how you plan on financing this business - but unless you have sufficient funds for start-up costs as well as a year's living expenses (most businesses fail due to a lack of reserve funds - and you can;t count on making anything in the first year). And I'm not sure a bank would be wiling to provide a business loan in this economic climate

Besides all that was said above:

I think you need to scout out locations to see competition, wealth, what is needed or not, a simple business plan, etc.

The fact that you are asking here, indicates that there is much to be done.

Have you ever owned a retail business?

Take a look at Nerja.

A beautiful, coastal town with nine small and large beaches among the cliffs (pop. about 20.000) that has got all the amenities that makes it very popular with tourists, but Nerja has also has kept much of its Andalucian charm. A substantial expat community, but many of them are selling now and closing down businesses. Could be just the right time to come in here if you have a good plan. http://www.nerjatoday.com/

I know Nerja very well since 2002. Two very close psychologist friends of us bought a place here some five years ago. They have now got a Spanish au pair so that their 1 1/2 year old daughter will be fluent in Spanish when they send her to school in Nerja in a few years.

Some of my Nerja favourites:

Marisquería La Marina is about as good as you get a seafood freiduría in all of Andalucía and very popular with locals: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Free tapas to choose with every drink of beer, wine or mineral water in most tapas bars and restaurants in Nerja for some 1,50-2€. Dozens of absolutely excellent places. For example delicious free tapas grilled on the spot (conchas finas, mussels, clams, prawns, monkfish, whitebait, baby-squid, sausages, pinchos morunos, mini-burgers etc.) and great atmosphere at El Pulguilla in C/Cristo, just off landmark Balcón de Europa.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Close to legendary beach restaurant Ayo's with the famous paella: http://www.ayonerja.com/index.html

Excellent Italian food at Vitaliano, of course run by Italians. Consistently great for the past eleven years: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Superb Thai/Laos food at Lan Sang: http://www.lansang.com/

The spectacular Nerja Caves count for much of the tourist boom since the early 1960's: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

Photo of Nerja: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg

And Nerja is very close to fabulous Andalucian capitals such as Málaga and Granada with the Alhambra.
Málaga: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html
Granada/Alhambra: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/gran...hamhistory.htm